UPDATE: Rescue crews recover body of Mark Taylor

Parks Canada's Ian Jackson at the edge of the crevasse on Friday, March 15. Blizzard conditions brought a halt to the search.

Search and rescue crews have recovered the body of Abbotsford parks manager Mark Taylor, who fell down a crevasse a week ago while on a five-day skiing expedition.

Omar McDadi with Parks Canada said weather conditions improved today on the Wapta Traverse – located northeast of Golden on the B.C.-Alberta border. Two rescue teams arrived at the site today, with the goal of entering the crevasse, after days of bad weather had hampered their attempts.

McDadi said crews found Taylor late Tuesday afternoon. They had to shovel through several metres of snow inside the crevasse.

“Parks Canada wishes to express our sincere condolences to the victim’s family. The thoughts of the rescue team and all Parks Canada personnel are with the family,” McDadi said.

Taylor – a Langley resident and the general manager of Abbotsford’s parks, recreation and culture department – fell down the crevasse just before midnight last Tuesday while skiing with his daughter and another man.